Apparatus, and process, for automatically sampling solids and semi-solids materials for analysis

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, and process, for extracting organic fluids and solids specimens from weighed amounts of semi-solids and solids samples for collection, concentration and transfer to an analytic unit. The organic specimen is picked up by a probe assembly from a single compartment septum-sealed vial by heating and slurrying the sample, contacting with a gas; and then transferring the organic specimen with the gas to a collection device, e.g., a syringe or adsorbent trap. The specimen is then transported to an analytical instrument for analysis.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/328,791, filed Oct.31, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,098.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to automatic fluid injectors, orinstruments of a class used for sampling and analyzing fluid specimens;and more recently, additionally, solids and semi-solids specimens. Inparticular, it relates to the automatic extraction of soluble organiccomponents, gases, liquids or solids specimens, or gases, liquids andsolids specimens, from solids and semi-solids samples for analysis viaautomated techniques.

BACKGROUND

Automated fluid injection devices, particularly automated needlesyringes, have gained wide acceptance by industry and by the scientificand medical communities. This is because these devices are generallycapable of dispensing very small, accurately measured quantities offluid specimens on the order of a few microliters, generally afractional part of a microliter. In the operation of these devices manysamples are prepared in advance, the specimens placed in vials, thevials placed in a magazine, or tray and the samples run with minimaloperating labor. Typically, e.g., septum covered bottles, or vialscharged with a fluid specimen, are transported in seriatim via amagazine to a station adjacent a probe assembly, a needle of the probeassembly is projected through the septum of a vial and employed as aconduit to convey a portion of the fluid specimen to the barrel of thesyringe. The circuit through which the specimen is conducted, and barreland needle of the syringe are cleaned, purged and a quantity of thefluid specimen is measured out and injected via the needle end of thesyringe into the inlet of an analytical instrument, e.g., a G.C. or massspectrometer. More recently, specimens have been extracted from solidsand semi-solids samples and analyzed in much the same way; i.e., thefluid, liquid, or solids specimens are extracted from a solids orsemi-solids sample, the specimen then passed to a syringe or anadsorbent or other type of purge trap, and the specimen then displacedfrom the syringe or trap to the analytical instrument for analysis. Theadvantages offered modern data gathering techniques, and consequentreduction in operating man power without loss in accuracy make thesedevices particularly useful in modern industrial establishments.

Automated apparatus for extracting fluid and solids specimens fromsolids and semi-solids samples for analysis is disclosed in Averette'sU.S. Pat. No. 5,147,551 which issued on Sep. 15, 1992 to DynatechPrecision Sampling Corporation. This instrument departed from earliermodels, such as disclosed in Averette's U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,845 whichissued on May 7, 1991 to Dynatech Precision Sampling Corporation, whichwere designed to pick up from vials and process only fluid specimens foranalysis. The later instrument, or instrument disclosed in the '551patent, was adapted to extract for analysis fluid or solid specimensfrom weighed amounts of solids or semi-solids samples contained withinone of the compartments of a compartmented vial. The compartmented vialswere carried via a feed tray, or magazine, to a station adjacent to asolids preparation and extraction sub-assembly for processing and pickup of the specimen. Water, or other solvent, was added to the solids orsemi-solids material in the upper compartment of the vial, the solids orsemi-solids material was crushed and ground, heated, gas was fed into alower compartment and passed through a frit into the tipper compartmentto extract the specimen for transport to an automated syringe, or purgetrap for containment and subsequent injection into the analyticalinstrument. However, whereas this instrument has performed admirably,and has extended the field of usage of these instruments, in handlingsome samples excessive foaming occurs which sometimes interferes withthe transfer of the extracted specimen from the compartmented vials.Additionally, inter alia, some simplification may be helpful, and it isdesirable to eliminate the need of using compartmented vials for theextraction and analysis.

OBJECTS

It is, accordingly, a primary need to provide such improvements in anautomated sampler device for the extraction, or removal of fluid orsolids specimen(s) from an organic solid or semi-solids material forcollection and transfer to an analytic instrument for analysis.

A further, and more particular object of this invention is to provideapparatus for processing, suitably in automated fashion, weighed solidsor semi-solids samples in non compartmented vials, or bottles, deliveredin seriatim for the solvent extraction of organic fluid or solidsspecimen(s) therefrom and for the collection and delivery of thecomponent, or components, taken from these samples to an analyticalinstrument for analysis.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a process for theextraction, and removal, of an organic fluid or solids specimen fromsolid or semi-solids materials with accuracy and precision for transferto a specimen collection device, suitably an automatic fluid injector,or syringe, or to a purge vessel, e.g., an adsorbent trap, for injectionor transfer to an analytical instrument.

THE INVENTION

These objects and others are achieved in accordance with the presentinvention embodying improvements in automatic fluid injectors to renderthese devices useful in processing for analysis organics, e.g., fluids,gases, or liquids, or solids specimens extracted from solids andsemi-solids materials, or both. The instrument is capable of handling,or processing for analysis extremely small fluid specimens per se, andfor extracting, or removing, for analysis extremely small organic liquidor solids specimens from solids or semi-solids samples, e.g., paints,plastics, rubber or the like. In a preferred embodiment solids orsemi-solids specimens contained in bottles, or vials, are delivered by afeed tray, magazine or carrousel in seriatim, to a solids preparationand extraction station wherein the solids or semi-solids are crushed andground, contacted directly with a solvent, heated and mixed to dissolveout the organic liquid or solids components from the solid orsemi-solids material, the liquid or solids components contacted andvaporized, or otherwise dispersed, in a non-reactive gas, and thenon-reactive gas containing the extracted liquid or solids component isthen passed to a collection device, suitably a syringe or purge gas trapanalyzer, for transfer and subsequent analysis, e.g., in a gaschromatograph or mass spectrometer.

A solids preparation and extraction device is structured to receive,handle and process for analysis the solid or semi-solids containingvials, or bottles, delivered by or picked up from a feed tray, magazineor carrousel. This device is programmable to select the appropriatesolid or semi-solids containing vials, or bottles from a feed traycontaining other bottles, or vials, which contain only fluids. In itspreferred use therefore, the solids preparation and extraction device ofthis invention is employed as a sub-assembly or (A) a solids preparationand extraction station in combination with other sub-assemblies of anautomated fluid injector which includes, or further includes, (B) asyringe, purge gas vessel or adsorbent trap, (C) an injector feedassembly for introducing a fluid specimen into the syringe, or purgevessel, and (D) a feed tray, magazine or carrousel for transportingvials or bottles for pick up of a specimen therefrom by the injectorfeed assembly for delivery to a specimen concentration device, suitablyan adsorbent trap or a syringe as described, e.g., by U.S. Pat. No.5,012,845, supra. Fluid specimens contained in vials, or bottles,carried by the magazine are programmed to bypass the (A) solidspreparation and extraction station, and the specimens are processed inseriatim for delivery to an analytical instrument as fully described atColumns 5-11, and by FIGS. 1-16 of the drawings, herewith incorporatedand made a part of the present application by reference. The vials, orbottles, which contain the solids and semi-solids samples, on the otherhand, are serially processed on arrival at the (A) solids preparationand extraction station, on delivery thereto by (D) the feed tray,magazine, or carrousel. The liquid solvent, preheated if desired, isdelivered to the vial which contains the solid, or semi-solids from anysuitable container, or reservoir, and fed e.g., via a mechanicalmetering pump. Suitably, e.g., a syringe not in use in processing asolid or semi-solids material can be used for this purpose. The syringein this instance would thus be used not in its normal capacity as amechanism for injection of a fluid specimen to an analytical instrument,but to deliver the liquid solvent for contact with the crushed, groundsolid or semi-solids component contained in the compartmented bottle forextraction of the fluid or solids component.

The invention, and its principle of operation, will be more fullyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description of aspecific and preferred embodiment, and to the attached drawings to whichreference is made in the description. Similar numbers are used in thedrawing to represent similar parts or components, and subscripts areused with numbers where parts or components are duplicated. Wherereference is made in the written text to a component designated by theuse of subscripts in the drawing, without reference to the subscripts,the designation is intended in a generic sense.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts a left side elevation view of the instrument, this viewshowing, in particular, the location, position and relationship betweenthe carrousel feed tray at the moment of its having delivered a solidsor semi-solids containing septum-sealed vial, or bottle, of a series, tothe solids preparation and extraction mechanism at which the vial, orbottles, and others (not shown) are stationed in sequential order ondelivery by the carrousel feed tray for crushing and grinding the solidor semi-solids. It also depicts the sample syringe from which, interalia, a liquid solvent can be supplied for contact with the crushedsolids; and as well an adjacent internal standards syringe.

FIG. 2 depicts in some detail a solids or semi-solids containing septumsealed vial, or bottle, and the solids preparation and extractionmechanism;

FIG. 3 depicts the solids preparation and extraction mechanism; and

FIG. 4, taken with FIGS. 1-3 describe a cycle of operation beginningwith the delivery and positioning of a solids or semi-solid containingseptum sealed vial, or bottle, at the solids preparation and extractionstation, and continuing through the extraction and injection of anextracted fluid or solid component to e.g., a purge gas trap analyzer.

FIG. 5 depicts in somewhat greater detail a preferred probe assembly.

Reference is made, first generally to the several figures which show apreferred solids preparation and extraction device. This device can beindependently mounted in an appropriate housing in the combinationsubsequently described and employed to process only solid or semi-solidsmaterials delivered on station thereto via a feed tray, magazine orcarrousel. Alternatively, this device can be mounted in an appropriatehousing with the additional sub-components (B) and (C), supra, toprovide an instrument suitable for handling, on the same feed tray,magazine, or carrousel, vials, or bottles, which contain both (i) fluidsamples and (ii) solid or semi-solids samples from which organic fluidor solids specimens can be extracted. A full and complete description ofan automatic fluid injector for handling fluid containing vials, and itsprincipal of operation, is given in the '845 patent, supra. The '551patent, supra, on the other hand, contains a description of apparatusfor extracting organic fluid and solids specimens from semi-solids andsolids samples; and also apparatus for handling both operationsemploying the same instrument. The present description will focus on adescription of the principle of operation and function of a preferredinstrument for extraction of organic fluid and solids specimens fromsemi-solids or solids samples, and process for carrying out thisoperation.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the principle components of the instrumentemployed to extract and recover the organic liquid or solids componentsfrom a given amount of a solid or semi-solids material, and inject saidrecovered components to an analytical unit, include a solids preparationand extraction sub-assembly 200, a syringe 10, and a carrousel feed tray50. All are contained within a suitable housing (described by the '845and '551 patents. The feed tray 50 transports in programmed sequence thebottles 250, containing weighed amounts of the solids or semi-solidssamples, to a position for operation thereon by the solids preparationand extraction assembly 200. The carrousel feed tray 50 provides seatinglocations for the bottles, or vials, in any programmed order as desiredfor analysis. The circumferential edges of the upper sample tray holder52 and tray base 54 of the carrousel feed tray 50 within which thebottles or vials are placed are slotted, or cut away providing slots 5which permit ready access for lifting the vials for processing, andextraction of components for analysis. The details of construction, pickup of the vials from the feed tray 50, and the operation and function ofthe solids preparation and extraction sub-assembly 250 are hereafterdescribed in detail by reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

A vial, or bottle 250 useful in the practice of the present invention isbest described by reference to FIGS. 2 through 4. Unlike the instrumentdescribed by the '551 patent, supra, the apparatus of this invention canutilize a more conventional single compartmented vial, or bottle 250. Aweighed solids or semi-solids material is sealed within the vial 250, asolvent is added thereto, the solids or semi-solids material is heated,crushed, ground and stirred to extract the organic liquid or solidsspecimen, and gas is added to remove the extracted organic liquid orsolids specimens from a vial 250 for collection and transport to theinlet of the analytical instrument as subsequently described.

The vial 250 is formed by an enclosing side wall 251, the opening intothe upper end of which is sealed by an open-centered, septum-covered endcap 252. Preferably, the upper end of the vial 250 is of reduceddiameter and threaded for threadable engagement with, and sealing by theopen-centered, septum-covered screw cap 252. Suitably, the smalldiameter end of the bottle is externally threaded, and the insideopening of the cap 252 is internally threaded for threaded engagementtherewith. The central opening within the cap 252 is covered with aseptum 254 to provide an impervious gas seal. Various means may beemployed to crush and grind the solids or semi-solids sample, butpreferably a magnetic stirring device is employed. Thus, preferably amagnetic stirrer device is employed to crush, and grind the solid, orsemi-solids sample by rotation of the magnetic stir bar 258 to releasethe organic liquid or solids component for dispersal or solution withinthe solvent 257. Gas, e.g., helium injected into the vial via the innertubular needle 212₁ of concentric needle assembly 212 will strip out,evaporate and pick up the component dissolved or otherwise removed fromthe crushed, ground solid and convey the component via the annularpassageway of the outer concentric needle 212₂, and line 212_(2A), to,e.g., a syringe, purge vessel or an adsorbent trap (not shown) forcollection and subsequent transfer to the analytical instrument (FIG.4).

The solids preparation and extraction sub-assembly 200, as shown by anyof FIGS. 1-4, includes generally an electrical heater, or oven 210, andan elevator assembly 220 inclusive of an upper carriage section 222₂ anda lower carriage section 222₁. It further includes an elevator motor 221for raising and lowering the elevator assembly 220, and a stir motor 223for inductive rotation of the magnetic stir bar 258 contained withinvial 250. The electric oven 210, which is secured in place in fixedposition upon a generally upright frame structure, housing and towerassembly, below the plate 211, is constituted of an electric heatingelement-containing wall, to which current is supplied via electricalleads (not shown) surrounding an open space within which the elevatorcarriage 222, supported upon a generally upright frame structure,housing and tower assembly, and carrying a vial, or bottle 250 withinwhich a solution can be added to contact a solid or semi-solidsmaterial, can be raised, housed and heated. The electrical heatingelement 213, it will be observed, is located between side walls 214₁,214₂ of the heater, and on one side thereof is provided insulation 215.Within the plate 211 is provided an opening or aperture through whichthe pair of concentrically mounted tubular needles 212 is projected, andrigidly retained in fixed vertical position. The inner needle 212₁ isconnected via a valved line 212_(1A) and line 212_(1C) (with valved line212_(1B) closed) to a supply source through which a liquid solvent,suitably a preheated liquid solvent if desired, can be introduced (FIG.3). Alternatively, a gas can be supplied to the inner needle 212₁ vialines 212_(1B), with 212_(1C) (with line 212_(1A) closed; see FIG. 4).The outer needle 212₂, with the inner needle 212₁, provides an annulusthrough which gas from the headspace above the level of the liquid inbottle 250 can be passed via outlet line 212_(2A) (FIG. 4). The elevatorassembly 220, constituted of a carriage 222 provided with lower andupper elevator sections 222₁, 222₂ are slidably mounted in a verticalgroove (not shown) of the housing or tower assembly for upward anddownward movement within the support structure, or tower.

The elevator carriage 222 can be reciprocated by the elevator motor 221,the shaft (not shown) of which is geared thereto by a mechanism (notshown). Activation of the stir motor 223 when the carriage 222 is inraised, or elevated position, produces rotation of the magnetic stir bar258 to crush and grind the weighed solid or semi-solids sample containedin the vial 250, and stir the liquid and solids contents thereof afterthe solvent, e.g., water, has been added.

A complete cycle of operation, beginning with a reference to FIG. 1 isdescribed as follows: The elevator carriage 222 is shown in its extremedownward position; the vial 250 resting within a slot of the magazine,or carrousel tray 50 where it has been transported by the tray, in aposition aligned for pick up by the elevator carriage 222. The vial 250rests in the carrousel tray 50 at a position below the heater 200.

Referring to FIG. 2, the bottom of the vial 250 is engaged by the lowerelevator section 222₁ of the elevator carriage 222 and lifted, the upperend of the cap 252 now being pressed within the downwardly directedconcave face of the bottle guide 222_(2A), the bottle 250 being alignedand stabilized as the elevator carriage 222 begins its ascent.

Referring next to FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be observed that thecross-sectional diameters of needles 212₁, 212₂ are enlarged tofacilitate showing the flow paths of the gases and liquids entering intoand leaving the needle assembly 212. Now, continuing the description ofa cycle of operation, reference is made to FIG. 3.

The elevator carriage 222, as shown by reference to FIG. 3, continuesthe ascent and is now lifted to its maximum upward position, beingdriven to this position by continued activation of the elevator motor221. As the elevator is lifted the septum 254 of bottle 250 ispenetrated by the pointed lower end of inner needle 212₁ of theconcentrically mounted pair of needles 212. On reaching its maximumupward position, liquid solvent, e.g., water, is injected via lines212_(1A), 212_(1C) and inner tubular needle 212₁ into the vial, orbottle 250 to raise the level of the liquid up to but not exceeding apredetermined level. The heating element of heater 210 is now heated,and the stir motor 223 is activated. The magnetic element 225, locatedon the end of the stir motor shaft 224 is rotated thereby inducingrotation of the magnetic stir bar 258 within the heated liquid. Rotationof the stir bar 258 is continued for a time sufficient to crush andgrind the solid or semi-solids material, releasing and extracting theorganic fluid or solids components therefrom.

Next referring to FIG. 4, a non-reactive or inert gas, e.g., helium, isinput via lines 212_(1B), 212_(1C) (while line 212_(1A) is closed) andneedle 212₁ into the liquid-containing vial 250, the gas exiting fromthe perforated openings at the terminal end of the needle, bubblingupwardly through the liquid. Suitably, when the liquid solvent is addedto the vial, or bottle 250, gas flow is initiated to flow through thesolvent-solids mixture simultaneously, with heating and stirring.Rotation of the magnetic stir bar 258 is continued as the gas passesupwardly partially as very fine bubbles, through the stirred slurry ofwater and finely divided solids. Liquid and solids components,particularly volatile organic contaminants as may be contained in, e.g.,a soil sample, are released from the solids or semi-solids materials asthe extraction becomes virtually complete. The vapors are removed fromthe vapor space of the bottle 250 via the annular passageway locatedbetween the outside wall face of needle 212₁, and the inside wall faceof needle 212₂, and passed via line 212_(2A), to a sample concentrator,suitably a syringe or adsorbent trap, and then to an analyticalinstrument. Preferably, the specimen is passed to a packed column, or"trap". Upon completion of the flow through the purge cycle, gas flowthrough the trap is reversed and, e.g., the volatile organiccontaminants held by fife trap are carried to an analytical instrument,e.g., a gas chromatograph or mass spectrometer.

The cycle L, begins anew with return of the elevator carriage 222 to itsdownward position, and the delivery of a new bottle or vial, by thecarrousel feed tray 50 as depicted by reference to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, a preferred probe assembly is shown in somewhatgreater detail; the probe assembly including a pair of concentrictubular needles 212, an inner needle 212₁, and an outer needle 212₂. Theenclosing wall forming the inner needle 212₁ is of relatively smallexternal diameter, whereas the wall forming the outer needle 212₂ is oflarger diameter, having an internal diameter sufficient to provide anannulus, or annular passageway between the external wall face of theinner needle 212₁ and internal wall face of the outer needle 212₂ ; theannular passageway being concentrically aligned upon the axis of thebore through the inner tubular needle 212₁. The lower terminal end ofthe inner tubular needle 212₁ tapers to a sharp point 212_(1D), aplurality of radially dispersed wall apertures 212_(1E) being providedto form a filter opening into the bore of the inner needle 212₁. Aplurality of radially arrayed wall apertures 212_(2E) at the terminallower end of outer needle 212₂ also provide a filter opening into theannulus, or annular opening between the external wall face of the innerneedle 212₁ and inner wall face of the outer needle 212₂. The opencentered externally threaded bolt 212₃, with large knurled knob, throughwhich the pair of needles 212 is passed and retained, provides a meansfor attachment and suspension of the needles 212 within the plate 211 ofthe housing structure. A pair of tubular metal conduits 212₄, 212₅, aresilver soldered in place to form passageways which communicate with theannular passageway and bore through the inner tubular needle 212₁,respectively; and to each of these, respectively, can be connected lines212_(1A) and 212_(1C).

The conduits 212₄, 212₅ are connected, or coupled, to lines 212_(2A),212_(1C), respectively, via union and ferrule connections; the union andferrule connection between conduit 212₅ and line 212_(1C) being shown incoupled fashion, while the union and ferrule connection between conduit212₄ and line 212_(2A) is shown in uncoupled position, and includes ascreen filter 212₆ to remove solids particulates which may betransported through the annulus between the two concentric needles 212₁,212₂.

The plurality of holes, or openings 212_(1E) circumferentially arrayed,and located near the terminal end, just above the point 212_(1D) ofinner needle 212₁, provide filtered access for the transfer of liquidand gas from the inside passageway through the needle to the chamber ofthe vial. The use of a plurality of openings increases purge efficiencyand minimizes the risk of coring, or solids pluggage as the needle ispassed through the septum of the vial. The sum total area of theopenings, preferably numbering from about 4 to about 8, is approximatelyequal to or greater, preferably ranging from about 1 to about 2 timesthe inside diameter of the needle 212₁, and more preferably is about 1;or approximately the inside diameter of the needle 212₁.

The number of holes, or openings, 212_(2E) at the lower end of needle212₂, generally ranges from about 12 to about 24; and are arrayed aboutthe circumference of the needle generally in about 2 to about 4 rows.The sum total area provided by the openings 212_(2E) is approximatelyequal to or greater, preferably approximating from about 1 to about 4times, more preferably from about 1 to about 2 times, thecross-sectional diameter of the annular passageway lying between theinside face of the enclosing wall which forms outer needle 212₂ and theoutside face of the wall which forms inner needle 212₁. The openings212_(2E) minimizes or prevents coring of the septum, maximizes the sealaround the probe itself, minimizes back pressure, and acts as a filterscreen to eliminate plugging and active site formation. The absolutediameter of each of the holes, or openings 212_(2E) is generallysomewhat smaller than the holes, or openings 212_(1E) of needle 212₁,typically approximating e.g., 1/16 inch in diameter. The filter openingsmakes feasible back flushing with liquid, e.g., water, through openings212_(1E), 212_(2E) to dislodge particles and eliminate particulatesolids plugging.

It is apparent that various modifications and changes can be madewithout departing the spirit and scope of the present invention. Theapparatus is constructed of materials substantially inert ornon-reactive to the chemical or corrosive action of the solids,semi-solids or fluid components contained within the specimens handled.The bottle, or vials, are normally constructed of a clear plastic, orglass and the caps used therewith of a hard plastic or plastic-likematerial. The septum, and sealing components of the bottles, or vials,and as well the tubing used in the instrument are normally constructedof rubber or plastic, and the rest of the instrument of various metals.

The seals are preferably formed of a rigid or semi-rigid, resilient formof plastic or plastic-like material. The self-lubricated plastics areespecially preferred in this capacity, and can also be applied as alaminate or protective film. The polyfluorinated ethylene polymers,notable among which is polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), areparticularly outstanding. Conventional resilient or plastic-likematerials, such as natural or synthetic rubbers can also be employed.The carrousel feed tray, the solids preparation and extractionsub-assembly, the housing and various other components of the instrumentis constructed of conventional metals, e.g., ferrous metals such asiron, iron alloys, steel, stainless steels, and the like; or such metalsas aluminum, magnesium, brass, copper, bronze, chrome, alloys of theseand other metals, and the like.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. In a process forthe extraction and separation for analysis of an organic fluid or solidsspecimen from a semi-solids or solids sample carried within a vialthecombination of steps which comprise locating a septum sealed vial havinga single compartment within which is contained said semi-solids orsolids sample adjacent a probe assembly, projecting said probe assemblythrough said septum into the compartment of the vial, said probeassembly includinga pair of concentrically mounted needles, an innerneedle having a bore therethrough formed by an enclosing wall, an outletat the lower terminal end of the needle opening into the bore throughwhich a gas or liquid can be passed, and an upper inlet communicatedwith the bore of said inner needle for use in introducing a gas orliquid into the bore, and an outer needle having a bore therethroughformed by an enclosing wall of diameter sufficiently large to provide anannular passageway between the outside wall face of said inner needleand inside wall face of said outer needle, a gas inlet at the lowerterminal end of the outer needle terminating above the outlet at thelower terminal end of said inner needle, and gas outlet at the upperterminal end of the outer needle communicated with the annularpassageway, a first line from a supply source of both gas and liquidconnected to the inlet of said inner needle through which gas can bepassed to exit via the outlet at the lower terminal end of the innerneedle to pressurize the contents of the vial, or liquid introduced as asolvent to disperse the semi-solids or solids sample, a second lineconnected to the gas outlet at the upper end of said outer needlethrough which a specimen-containing gas can be transported, whereby,when the probe assembly is inserted into the septum sealed vial, the gasinlet at the lower terminal end of the outer needle remains above saidsemi-solids or solids sample, injecting a liquid solvent via said firstline of said probe assembly into the bore of said inner needle, theliquid solvent exiting at the opening at the lower terminal end of theinner needle to fill the vial compartment to a predetermined liquidlevel, and disperse the semi-solids or solids sample within the liquidsolvent to form a slurry, injecting a gas via said first line into thebore of said inner needle, the gas exiting from the lower terminal endof said inner needle, thereby pressurizing the contents of the vial andmixing with the liquid slurry, and passing gas into the annularpassageway of the outer needle, the gas exiting from the second line toa specimen collector for concentration therein, and transfer therefromfor analysis in an analytical instrument.
 2. The process of claim 1wherein the terminal lower end of the inner needle of the probe assemblyterminates as a point to facilitate passage through the septum of thevial.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the semi-solids or solids samplecontained, with liquid solvent, within the vial compartment is heated,crushed and ground to disperse the semi-solids or solids sample withinthe liquid solvent to form the slurry.
 4. The process of claim 1 whereinthe single compartmented septum sealed vial within which the semi-solidsor solids sample is provided contains means for crushing and grindingsame to facilitate separation of the organic fluid or solids specimentherefrom.
 5. The process of claim 4 wherein the means for crushing andgrinding the semi-solids or solids sample is a stir bar driven by amagnetic motor.
 6. The process of claim 1 wherein a pair of lines,alternately operable, are connected with the inlet to the inner needle,one line providing during part of the operating cycle a means fordelivery of liquid from a liquid supply source to the vial to clean theneedle, and at another part of the operating cycle a liquid solvent forslurrying the solids or semi-solids organic specimen-containingmaterial.
 7. In a process for the extraction and separation for analysisof an organic fluid or solids specimen from a semi-solids or solidssample carried within a vialthe combination of steps whichcompriselocating a septum sealed vial having a single compartment withinwhich is contained said semi-solids or solids sample adjacent a probeassembly, projecting a pair of hollow needles of said probe assemblythrough said septum into the compartment of the vial, said pair ofhollow needles including,a first needle having a bore therethroughformed by an enclosing wall, an outlet at the lower terminal end of thefirst needle opening into the bore through which a gas or liquid can bepassed, and an upper inlet communicated with the bore of said firstneedle for use in introducing a gas or liquid into the bore, and asecond needle having a bore therethrough formed by an enclosing wail, agas inlet at the lower terminal end of the second needle and gas outletat the upper terminal end of the second needle communicated with thepassageway provided by the bore through said second needle, a first linefrom a supply source of both gas and liquid connected to the inlet ofsaid first needle through which gas can be passed to exit via the outletat the lower terminal end of the first needle to thereby pressurize thecontents of the vial, or liquid introduced as a solvent to disperse thesemi-solids or solids sample, a second line connected to the gas outerat the upper end of said second needle through which aspecimen-containing gas can be transported, whereby, when the pair ofhollow needles of said probe assembly is inserted into the septum-sealedvial, the gas inlet to the second needle at the lower terminal endthereof remains above said semi-solids or solids sample, injecting aliquid solvent via said first line into the bore of said first needle,the liquid solvent exiting at the opening at the lower terminal end ofthe needle to fill the vial compartment to a predetermined liquid level,dispersing the semi-solids or solids sample within the liquid solvent toform a slurry, injecting a gas via said first line into the bore of saidfirst needle, the gas exiting from the lower terminal end of saidneedle, pressurizing the contents of the vial and mixing with the liquidslurry, and passing gas from the vial into the bore of the second needleto transport the specimen for analysis, the gas exiting from the secondline to a specimen collector for concentration therein, and transfertherefrom for analysis in an analytical instrument.